Applying text mining and sentiment analysis to EIS parents’ insights on the proposed move of EIS to Otaniemi

All comments and insights gathered through these sources were collectively analysed applying text mining and sentiment analysis (also known as opinion/emotion mining) given the subjectivity of the information and the sensitivity of the subject to survey respondents and blog visitors, and therefore the obvious presence of emotions and sentiments behind the text.

A total of 639 arguments were pulled out from all the above-mentioned information sources and analysed with the Kapiche text mining and analytical tool using additional sentiment identification functionalities. Identified terms and key terms were clustered into most frequent topics (i.e. key issues), the top 5 of which are presented in more details in the following sections and supported by anonymous examples of the most prominent comments submitted by the EIS Community members. The report includes the top 5 strongest topics driving positive and negative sentiment identified in the analysed dataset and provides 3 conclusions and related recommendations.

Under the British Council Researcher Links scheme we are holding a workshop in Cali, Colombia on 26-28 November 2014.The workshop is coordinated by the University of Manchester and the Universidad del Valle. This is a closed event to bring together up to 40 Early Career Researchers (ECR) to explore possible UK-Colombia research and innovation cooperation opportunities in the following areas:

The purpose of the post is to provide research assistance and support to both ongoing and forthcoming research projects in the areas of Foresight, Horizon Scanning and Innovation Research (e.g. VERA – Forward Visions for the European Research Area; CASI – Public Participation in Developing a Common Framework for Assessment and Management of Sustainable Innovation; CfWI HS – Centre for Workforce Intelligence Horizon Scanning), led by Dr Rafael Popper and Professor Ian Miles. You will be expected to undertake a range of assistance activities as directed by Dr Popper.

The position will involve work on a variety of Foresight and Horizon Scanning (FHS) projects, both contributing to ongoing FHS activities and bringing an FHS element into projects dealing with specific topics. You may also be required to assist in the deployment of relevant tools and activities (e.g. online surveys, groupware, futures workshop facilitation, cross-impact or SWOT analyses) in other contexts where they may be useful. The work will typically be interdisciplinary and will require drawing on contributions from a range of professions and fields of study. Studies may be executed within the UK, Europe, and other overseas regions, such as Latin America and South Asia. The position will require practical experience in the translation of anticipatory and future-oriented research outputs into policy recommendations.

Please note that if you do not have permission to work in the UK, the University of Manchester will not be able to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship for you to take up this position. All non EU/EEA candidates must have valid immigration status and/or a UK visa valid for the duration of the contract in order to be considered for this appointment.

The VERA project aims to provide relevant strategic intelligence for the future governance and priority-setting of the research, technology, development and innovation (RTDI) system in Europe and for better adapting science, technology and innovation (STI) policy to the shifting global environment and upcoming socio-economic challenges. For this purpose VERA carries out an in-depth stocktaking of RTDI related forward looking activities in Europe and internationally and a thorough review of trends and drivers of long-term change of European RTDI governance. On the base of these insights VERA develops scenarios on the evolution of the European Research Area, assesses the critical issues for the ERA’s future capabilities emerging from these scenarios, explores subsequent strategic options and ultimately generates a set of policy recommendations for responsive and future oriented multi-level, multi-domain RTDI policy strategies.

At this point the VERA scenarios are completed and we now assess the scenarios with respect to the ERA Vision 2020 and in particular discuss the consequences of different ERA scenarios for the capability of ERA to make Europe more innovative and more capable of solving the challenges ahead. This will be done on different levels and for different sectors with the help of a series of Focus Groups with key stakeholders invited to reflect on strategies and recommendations for the future of European Research Area (ERA).

The VERA Focus Groups will address questions such as:

What are the opportunities and threats of ERA futures for key stakeholders?

What are the strategies of key stakeholders vis-à-vis ERA scenarios by 2030?

What are the objectives of key stakeholders that should be included in the ERA agenda?

What are the strategies of key stakeholders vis-à-vis ERA objectives?

What are the recommendations from key stakeholders for ERA-relevant actions today?

This discussion on the possible futures of the European Research Area and the perspectives and interests of different stakeholders is a crucial input into the debate and policy making process at the European and national level. ERA is a dynamic concept, and it must be thought of as a long term endeavour, considering the implications for and strategies of all stakeholders involved.

The results of the Focus Groups will be captured in a final report analysing possible strategic responses of different stakeholders in the context of the different VERA scenarios and will lead to policy implications and recommendations for the future evolution of ERA. It is thus important that all stakeholder views feed into this process. A total of six Focus Groups will gather the views of the following stakeholder groups:

Societal actors (Vienna, 23rd January 2014)

University and RTO actors (Manchester, 4th April 2014)

Industry actors (Helsinki, 23rd April 2014)

Research funding actors (Berlin, 28th April 2014)

National-level policy actors (Barcelona, 15th May 2014)

EC-level RTDI actors (Barcelona, 16th May 2014)

The combined results of all the focus groups will feed into the final VERA Symposium (October 2014) to be attended by the most engaged participants as well as high level experts.

For further information on VERA Focus Groups, contact rafael.popper@manchester.ac.uk